Q & A With New Zealand Kayak Fishing Series Champion, Kerry Flowers

What is a trophy catch

A trophy catch has to be something that not many others have achieved. For example, many anglers consider a 20-pound snapper a trophy. When I first started, that was definitely a prize. Now, I set my eyes on a 30-pounder.

Toughest accomplishment

I started fishing to feed my young family. When a buddy got a kayak, I scraped up every penny and bought a cheap, used kayak. On my first trip, I smashed my personal best snapper and I was hooked. After that, I started fishing every weekend.

Favorite fish story

That would have to be my striped marlin catch. The forecast was for 20-knot winds so I figured I’d stay inshore and fish for snapper. When I got to the fishing grounds, the wind wasn’t blowing so I worked my way offshore. I caught a couple skipjack and set them out as livebait. I was six miles offshore when I decided to turn and work my way back in. That’s when the line-out alarm on my reel gave a little chirp. I picked up the rod. The line was slack. I started reeling and I could feel weight. I tightened the drag and line started spewing off the reel. Then, a huge marlin jumped out of the water just off the bow. I fought it for 20 minutes and had it on the leader. Reached out and touched its sickle tail and the huge fish took off again. After another 45 minutes of give and take, the hook pulled out of the fish. The fish dragged me three miles farther offshore, and the wind kicked up, so I had to paddle 10 miles back in a headwind.